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IMPROVEMENT IN AIR ENGINES.

PETER CHICK, OF TAUNTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 60,474, dated December 18, 1866.

'TO ALL WHOM ITMAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, PETER CHICK, of Taunton, in the county of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Caloric or Hot-Air Engines and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a caloric engine, with the improvement shown thereon; and

Figure 2, the interior of the same.

My invention can be applied to any form or style of hot-air engine now in use, and in the annexed drawings I have applied it to the simplest form of caloric engines. I so place the common forcing-pump A, that it may be attached to the working part of the engine, (as by the rod B tothe walking-beam 0,) and driven by it when desired; or detached from the engine, (by loosening the thumb-screw D,) and worked by hand by means'of. the lever E. Through the side of the furnace, into the fire-chamber, at a proper distance above the fire, I introduce the tube F, securing it in positiomby the clamp and screw H, or by any other device which readily permits the pipe F to be withdrawn, when not in use. The inner end of this pipe is closed, and pierced on its upper side with one or more minute holes. Directly above tlIese holes, and attached to the-top of the'fire-chamber, is an inverted, hollow half-globe I, against which the water strikes, (when thrown through the pipe F,) and falls down upon the burning coals S in the form of spray or mist. To the outer end of the pipe F, at J, I attach the flexible pipe K, and connect it by means of this flexible pipe to the pump A, at L. The water is taken into the pump at M. I

Having thus described my'improvement, I will now show its operation. It is a well-known fact in the use of caloric engines, that whenever put in motion, they require turning by hand for a number of revolutions before the heated air will come into action sufiiciently to-operate the machine. My improvement remedies this disadvantage. After the tire has been kindled, and the heat raised to the proper temperature, I disconnect the pump from the engine, by loosening the thumb-screw D, and thus permitting the plunger N to he worked by means of the handle E. I thus force a small quantity of water through the tube F, and, falling, as it will, in fine spray upon the burning fuel, the water is instantly decomposed into-its primitive gases, giving suificient power to set the engine in motion without any other assistance. I then, by turning the screw D, attach the pump to the working engine, and the operation of forcing the water into the fire is continued as long as desired. When not in use, the screw H may be loosened, and the pipe be wholly or partially withdrawn from .the furnace. The discharge of water from the orifices at the end of the pipe F, should ,be so regulated as to give, out only the amount of water which the fire will instantly decompose, and in such a case, the pump may be continued in use the whole time of the running of the engine, and a. continued additional power he thus obtained.

What I claim, is I I 1. The inverted semi-sphere in the upper portion of the fire-box, substantially as shown and described.

2. The semi-sphere, in combination with the fire-box, substantially as shown and described.

3. The arrangement of the water-injection pipe, in such a manner-that it may be withdrawn at any time, substantially in the manner shown and described.

PETER CHICK.

Witnesses L. T. TALBOT, E. D. Gonrnnr. 

